Rail-joint and fish clamping-plates.



M. c. smnm RAIL JOINT AND FISH CLAMPlNG PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 5, 19H.

Patent/3d Mar. 12, 1.918.

glvweutod pair-n srarns rarities MAE CATHERINE SMITH, 0F POLO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALE TO GEORGE LAWRENCE SAUER, OF POLO, ELLIINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT AND FISH CLAMEING-ELfiTES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Application filed December 5, 1917. Serial No. 205,639.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAE C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Polo, in the county of Ogle, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful. Rail-Joint and Fish Clamping-Plates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved rail joint and fish clamping plates therefor, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient device of this kind comprising simple and practical features of construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind having improved means consisting of overlapping parts carried by the bases of the rail sections for joining the rails.

One of the features of the invention co11- sists in constructing the adjacent faces of said overlapping parts V-shaped, thereby preventing the overlapping parts from displacement. in other words said V-shaped adjacent faces of said overlapping parts act to hold the parts in place while connecting or placing the fish plate in position.

Another feature of the invention consists in buiging the upper faces of the bases of the rail. sections adjacent the overlapping iarts and correspondingly constructing the fish clamping plates so as to engage the bulged part to guide the fish clamping plates into position, whereby the bolt receiving apertures of the fish plates and the webs of the rail sections may axially register, so that the bolts may easily enter said apertures.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the improved rail joint constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the adjoining rail sections, showing the overlapping parts of their bases, and the fish clamping plates removed.

Fig. :3 is a sectional view on line of rig. is :1 cross 'sartmnal view on line Referring mor especially to the draw- .in s, l and 2 ignate a pair of adjoining rail sections, and he rail section 1 has the trend or ball and the web f the rail cut away as shown at the base l of the rail section 1 providing an extension tongue the up 10*; face of which is countersunk V shaped as shown at The rail section 2 has its base 7, where it overlaps the extensive tongue 5, thickened or bulged or enlarged as shown at 8. By so enlarging or thickening the base 7 of the rail section 2, it is possible to und rcut. the base '7 of the rail section 2, in fact provide the base 7 with an undercut recess 9 for the reception of the extension tongue 5. The face of the undercut recess 9 is constructed ii-shaped corresponding to and fitting the countersunk shaped face of the extension tongue. thcrcl preventing lateral movement of the overl ping parts of the rail sections while plat-ii, fish clamping plates 10 and 11 in position. The rail sections are put in position so that their overlapping parts will enga l go, and since the adjacent faces of the o-.'eriapping parts are ii-shaped, said rails will remain alined until the fish clamping plates are put in place. Just where the end of the ba e overlapping part of the rail section 2 abuts the end wall of the cutaway part 3, the base i of the rail section 1 is bulged or enlarged as shown at 12. Just where the ordinary thickness of the base 7 merges into the bulged or thickened portion 8 of the overlapping rail section 2, shoulders 13 are formed. These shoulders 13 and 12 occur on both sides of the rail sections 1 and 2. The overlapping parts of the bases of said rail sections at diagonally opposite points are provided with registering aper: tures 14- and 15.

The fish plates 10 and 11 engage the oppoite faces of the webs of the rail sections, and have their upper portions terminating in outwardly extending flanges 16 and 17, which engage under the ball or tread of the rail, thereby bracing the rail sections in position. Said fish plates 10 and 11 at their lower portions extend outwardly into the parts 18 and 19, which extend over and fit the upper faces of the bases 1 and 7 of said rail section's. These outwardly extending parts 18 and 19 are bulged upwardly to correspond with and fit the thickened portion 8 of the base of the rail section 2, and constructed correspondingly with and to fit the shoulders 12 and 13, so that when the fish clamping plates are put into place on oppositc sides of the rail sections, they are guided into position. The fish clamping plates are provided with apertures 20, which axially register with the apertures 21 of the webs of said rail sections 1 and 2, as the fish clamping plates are put into, place, so as to readily receive the securing bolts 22, which have nuts 23 to hold them in place. The outwardly extending parts 18 and 19 of the fish clamping plates merge integrally into the part 2 1, which extends under the bases 4: and 7 of the rail sections, thereby constituting rail plates. These under extending parts 2%. and the parts 18 and 19 have registering apertures 25 and 26, which are diagonally disposed and are arranged correspondingly and register with the apertures 14: and 15 of the overlapping parts of the rail sections to receive the bolts 27, which are provided with nuts 28 on their upper end to hold the parts together.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In combination, a pair of adjoining rail sections having their bases provided with overlapping parts, the adjacent faces of said overlapping parts having corresponding V-shaped engaging portions, fish clamping plates engaging opposite faces of the webs of the rails said plates having thelr upper edges engaging under the ball or tread of the rail sections, the lower portions of the fish plates extending outwardly over the bases of the rail sections and under said Copies of this patent may be obtained for bases, bolts passing through the plates and the Webs, and bolts passing through the outwardly and under extending parts of the plates and throughthe overlapping parts of the bases of the rail sections.

2. In combination, a pair of adjoining rail sections, one 'rail section having its web and its ball or tread cut away, its base providing an extension tongue, with its upper face having a countersunk recess, the other rail section having its base provided with an under cut recess, its face being bulged V-shaped to correspond with and engage the countersunk recess of the extension tongue, thereby overlappingthe rail sec tions, a pair of fish clamping plates engaging the opposite faces of the webs of the rail sections, bolts passing through the fish plates and said webs, the upper faces of the bases of the rails being bulged, forming shoulders, said fish plates having outwardly extending parts engaging the upper faces of the bases of the rail sections, said outwardly extendin parts extending inwardly under the bases of the rail sections, said outwardly extending parts being upwardly bulged and having shoulders to correspond with and engage the bulges and shoulders of the bases of the rail, whereby the fish plates are, guided into place, and bolts passing through the outwardl; and under extending parts and the overlapping bases of therail sections and having nuts to hold the parts together. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAE CATHERINE SMITH.

Witnesses GEORGE L. SAUER, MARTIN L. SMITH.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

